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From: Richard Asbridge 
Subject: Re: Problems after installing Ubuntu (fairly long)
Newsgroups: alt.os.linux.ubuntu
References: 
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Date: 24 Feb 2007 22:52:05 GMT
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> So now I have a few comments and problems. Just about everything I
> tried didn't work very well. I'm not bashing Linux or Ubuntu. Notice
> that I am not crossposting this to any other group. I simply want to
> air some comments and get some comments.
Always a good idea :)

> The first thing I did was use the add/remove application to install
> Gambas. That worked fine. I created a simple Hello World application
> that worked fine in the designer, and then compiled it and tried to
> run it from Gnome. I got an error: Cannot open ... No application
> suitable for automatic installation is available...  First question,
> why won't the app run?
I to have written a lot of VB code in my time and I had a look at Gambas
when I first moved to Linux. I must say I was not particularly impressed
with it as a development language/environment either. The C based
languages largely rule in the *NIX world and they are definately worth a
look. Also have a peek at Python and PHP. A really nice IDE is kdevelop
which is part of the KDE environment, this is what I use. For web
development I use a package called Quanta.

> I have a comment about the add/remove application. The gauge showing
> the percent download has (by default anyway) a color scheme that makes
> the text invisible as it progressess to the right. Also, as I hit
> backspace to change the thing that I'm searching for, Add/Remove is
> apparently searching the list with every keypress so nothing appears
> to be happening as I hit backspace. The rule I follow while writing
> this sort of list search is to search when the person stops typing for
> a half-second or so, not every keypress. It requires a bit more coding
> effort but the user experience is much better.
Can't help much here sorry, as I mentioned I use KDE (thus kubuntu rather
than ubuntu) I don't have this problem.

> So what sort of computer did I install Ubuntu on? A fairly old one
> that I got from a friend to use as a test machine. I figure that I'll
> check the specs. I go to Device Manager. No information is available
> for the processor. Not whether it is Intel or AMD, nor the speed. How
> much RAM? No idea, I can't find it anywhere. Maybe I just missed it.
Once again, in kubuntu it's a quick trip in "KDE Info center" to get the
detail you're looking for.

> Well, I figure that I'll design a database using OpenOffice since I
> have a need for one. So I manage to create a table with no problem,
> and I add a few columns and one is an integer autoincrement type to
> use as a primary key. As I try to save the database, I get a error
> message that no primary key is defined, do I want to add one. Ok, I
> thought that I had one but go and add one. Now I get an error that I'm
> trying to add a second primary key.
Been there as well... my advice, try postgresql and pgadmin, nice
graphical environment, with "Enterprise manager" and "Query analyzer" work
alikes (to use MS speak). I don't rate Open office as a database tool any
more than I rate Access. Both are cut down and over simplified for office
staff rather than programmers like us.

> I figure that I'll see how I can acess the newsgroups. I don't see
> anything likely under the Internet group so I check add/remove and
> search for newsgroup. Two things show up. One is a binary leacher so I
> ignore that because I'm looking for text, although it did mention in a
> snotty way that anyone installing it might have to read the manual.
> Apparantly they couldn't write a newsgroup binary grabber that is user
> friendly.
pan is a great news reader with a friendly interface. search for "pan" in
your package manager and install it.

> But here is something called Bowser. I install it. I run it. I get an
> error that "sr_bd mysql connect fail". Oh. Maybe MySQL isn't
> installed? I look at add/remove, the only things mentioned for MySQL
> is an administrative tool and a visual query designer. Fine, I add
> both, Bowser still won't run.
Never heard of Bowser sorry

> I look at evolution, I try to set up an email account (I use hotmail)
> but I have no idea how to set it up to use hotmail. But it looks like
> evolution is also a newsreader. Great, but I made a mistake entering
> my newsgroup provider and it can't load anything. Ok, I hunt around
> and find where to change it. But now I can't find any way to get the
> listing of newsgroups. I don't see anything in evolution that has
> anything to do with newsgroups. So, I'm posting this on my old copy of
> Agent on an XP machine.
I use kmail for email reading and pan for news. Can't say I use hotmail,
too slow. I used my linux box to provide my own webmail :)

> That's about it for now. I have some programming that really does have
> to get done and I'm about out of time for Ubuntu for the weekend. I
> would greatly appreciate any clues as to what I can do to resolve any
> of these problems. Thanks.

Install kubuntu by typing the following command in a terminal window...

sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop

....enter your password when asked.

In my opinion, KDE is a smoother transition for Windows users.
Personally I find it has the applications I prefer native to it including
the following:

quanta - great web development IDE
kdevelop - awesome multi-language development IDE
kmail - best damn mail reader in the world (sorry I'm a fan)
kaffeine - a media player of note
amarok - an absolutely awesome
superkaramba - a really nice widget set for the desktop

If you have any further questions, fire away and I'll try to help.
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